The Vegas Golden Knights still have some work to do when it comes to a deal with restricted free agent Nate Schmidt before his Aug. 3 arbitration hearing.
The Golden Knights requested a two-year deal with an average annual value of $975K, while Schmidt's camp is seeking a one-year deal at $2.75 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Schmidt, 26, tallied 17 points in 60 games with the Washington Capitals, but the smooth-skating defenseman only averaged 15:29 minutes per night, as he was stuck behind one of the NHL's deepest blue lines.
A full year playing in a more prominent role should lead to more production for Schmidt and will therefore lead to a bigger contract, so it's unsurprising Vegas wants to sign him to a multi-year deal.
Schmidt is willing to bet on himself with a one-year deal, which makes sense given he could be in line for a career year.
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